Turquoise and Roses

What was empty before is now very very very full! Will update all on my travel stories soon.

Was just going through Nonnie’s blog and I realised she has a list of things that she’s bringing to Bangkok and a picture of her suitcase even. Ai so I got jealous and took a picture of MY suitcase hahaha.

Yes I know, empty. Hahaha, I also don’t know what else to bring. Rest assured this suitcase will be full to the brim when we go home. Basically the bag is “filled” with these supposedly must have items:

• A lot of panties (both disposable and non-disposable) and 2 bras (Like I said on my Twitter, panties are the most important thing to bring travel, everything else is secondary)
• My precious leggings (black & grey)
• My very much visible green camisole (well, I bring this everytime I travel, not really sure what for)
• My lucky neon yellow “pyjamas” which I will wear every night.
• 3 tops
• My bright pink toiletries bag: Not really sure what’s inside, but I know I stashed a lot of hotel toiletries I kiapped from past travels, I’m sure there’s soap, and maybe shampoo, and of course toothbrush and razor.
• First aid kit (supposedly: in pink flowery pouch): Antacids, panadol and antiseptic cream
• Simple Travel Kit (Love these! I always bring these when I travel, good for up to 3-4 trips.)
• A whole load of plugs and wires (in yellow bag, under the pile of clothes): camera charger & cable, phone charger, universal adapter, baby laptop charger (Mac is staying home), external hard drive.
• Clorox wipes (COOL!!! Bought these in Hua Ho just now on impulse)

That’s pretty much it. Might stuff in more stuff tomorrow. In my handbag, is the regular things I lug around everyday in Brunei:

• Wallet: containing IC, money, ATM cards.
• Camera, empty memory stick.
• Makeup bag: my very trusty MAC StudioFix, eyeshadow, eyeliner, blusher, lip gloss
• Travel pouch: Tickets, passport, namecards, luggage keys, hand sanitizer.
• Mobile phone
• Baby laptop
• Pink planner (Must bring!)

That’s pretty much it! Hehe.

While I’m travelling, Twitter will be up and running as usual but blog will be very much sleeping. You all take care now. Be safe.

Ok, must sleep! Night, night everyone.

P/S: BTW, in case you all haven’t figured it out by now, I’m travelling with Nonnie!

Apparently I can blog from my phone using this really cool application called Shozu. Wow! I can also post pictures on Twitter and upload albums to Facebook and everything. Hoho. Awesome!

Oh speaking of which, come and follow me on Twitter!

A Digital Media Installation by Victoria Cattoni

In What if I want to water-ski? And Other Questions, artist Victoria Cattoni asks us to unveil our perceptions and perhaps, misconceptions, of the Muslim headscarf for women, otherwise known generically as hijab, or locally as tudong.

The exhibition firstly documents the headscarf as it is worn by Muslim women today in each of the places where it has taken place – Singapore, Penang, Cairns and Mareeba.  These photographic portraits, as well as documenting a cross-section of types of tudung, are intended to challenge mainstream representations of women in headscarf. The photographs offer instead, very personal depictions of the Muslim woman in headscarf.

The video work in the exhibition reveals perceptual and personal journeys of the individuals involved, who, in the main, do not wear hijab and are not Muslim. We witness these individuals trying on headscarf for the first time, reacting in very different ways. We view and listen to these women as they respond to seeing themselves in headscarf. We watch as they explore their thoughts and feelings on it, as they consider the headscarf as a garment, symbol and inadvertently, a cultural text.

The installation encompasses video and digital photographs, as well as books that are documents of past direct audience interaction.

I thought this might be of interest to you guys out there who love the finer things in life. I believe Victoria Cattoni once also did a very interesting performance installation entitled, Kebaya-South, South East. If you are interested in this, read below for more information:

Venue: Sheraton Hotel 22 June 1pm-8pm and 23 June 11am-8pm or
Dar Takaful IBB Utama Building 24 June -29 June 9am -5pm.
Admission: Free

After yesterday’s roughing up in the Badas Forest Reserve, I immediately went for a manicure/pedicure combo today. Why? Because I have disgusting black goo in between my nails that just would not go away no matter how hard I scrubbed!

Believe me I was already using gloves! Hahaha.

Now behold, post-manicure macro picture!

Finger porn for all of you phalangophiles out there with finger fetishes huhuhu!

UPDATED: 13/6/09

I am dead beat! Woke up at an ungodly hour of 6.30am today and went gallivanting over to the other side of Brunei to plant trees. I slept quite late last night and when the alarm rang this morning I can’t help but think: WHAT did I get myself into? Hahaha. But thankfully all is well. For more information please click here, here or here.

Let me just say this: I can’t feel my legs, and I’m possibly a little bit lobster-burnt, and that shower felt like the first shower I had in weeks. But hell, did I have so much fun today!

Will update tomorrow, I’m so sleepy I’m actualy starting to hallucinate!

When I was a child, we used to visit our grandmother in Danau a lot. One of the most vivid memories I have of her is that she loves tea, Lipton black tea to be exact. She made tea in the same teapot for at least 20 years before she finally rested in peace, and not one day had gone by without her having her cuppa.

I don’t really make tea that much nowadays, and when I do, it’s jasmine green tea. But the past few days, I’ve taken a liking to the yellow Lipton teabags at work and filling my mug with hot water and sugar. The steam wafts through the air in our kitchen, and each time I am reminded of my memories with my grandmother.

AlFatihah for Nini Mo.

Food and memories. Some other foods conjure up images of people I know:

A well done steak reminds me of my TESL friend, F.
Mint chocolate chip ice cream reminds me of Sister 1.
Lasagna reminds me of Sister 2.
Omellete with baked beans reminds me of my Dad (and Sister 4, because I distinctly remember him happilly making this during dinner for the rest of us girls when my mum was in the hospital having Sister 4).

Or sometime food reminds me of events, if my mum is cooking or in the kitchen at 11pm onwards, it feels like Hari Raya. Hehe.

What a random monday. All starts with tea.

In light of my recent angsty post, here is some good juju to counter the bad juju from the last post. I must stop, before I start talking about the haze outside which is another matter totally. Argh. Ok ok, I am letting it go. I am at peace. Obama rocks.

Here is a speech I have played and replayed at least 5 times since a day ago.



Post warning: Some taboo language used. Parental guidance advised.

I’m finding myself slightly bothered by something I witnessed tonight in McDonald’s.

A gang of Malay boys, and I definitely mean a big gang of at least 10 boys in their 20s, physically hurting a small group of Middle Eastern-ish looking foreign boys (they look like they’re in their teens), in public. I mean, ok, so maybe they’re just stupid and hormonal and for all I know, they’re probably fighting of some girl. Ugh. Anyway, whatever the cause, it did get rather violent as they were barricaded in the fast food joint by the Malay boys.

But it’s not what I saw that is making me feel bothered but rather, it is what I heard. I keep on replaying it over and over in my head and it makes me extremely embarassed and disgusted. It’s just so disgusting that I feel like spitting.

“Hey Jew, motherfucking pussy! You think I’m scared?”

“You muslim? No, you’re a Jew!”

“Are u Islam man? Then come here!”

I can’t believe these words came out of a Malay’s mouth. And you kiss your mother with that mouth? How f-ing racist is that? A Jew? Calling someone a Jew like that? I’m just aghast! I am literally unable to string a sentence together to describe how I feel about this! What did your parents teach you man?

And bringing in Muslim & Islam into the fight? What the hell? These boys don’t know the first thing about being a Muslim! How long is it since the last time you saw the insides of a mosque? Kamu atu barigali sembahyang pun inda! If ever I wonder why there’s so much hostility surrounding Islam then I believe I’ve just found the reason. It’s people like these! I’m not perfect but I would never use Islam’s name like that!

A few moments later I saw those Middle-Eastern-ish looking boys heading for the police station just 3 minutes away with his red cuts and throbbing bruises escorted by a giant-sized friend. If it was not for that giant-sized friend, I doubt the boys would even make it out of the door.

Eeeeh barigali bah! And you know what else bothered me? I am sorry to stereotype. But here it is:

Malay style. If they fight, for sure they will bring a gang, of no less than 15 people, 13 of them not really knowing what’s going on, and pretty much in it for the thrill. And of course, yang kan dibawa kelayie ani gerenti 2-3 orang saja. Of course, bila ramai, iya rasa kuat lah. And more often than not, it has to be done in a public place, because what good is fighting if no one can see? Samsing tah rasa kamu tu. Shit, you won’t last 2 minutes in a real war.

This fight was only 2 minutes away from the police station and the police do not have a clue! I mean seriously, get a clue!

And McDonalds, hello! Families and kids dine there. I mean, don’t even have surveillance cameras.What if your workers are hurt?

I really didn’t want to blog about this at first. It’s really none of my business. But I’m bothered because I am ashamed! I am so ashamed of my fellow Malays. They seem so proud just waltzing in there like they own the world. Saying whatever, doing whatever. Shaddappp! BAIK PULANG KAMU MENANAM PUKUK DI BADAS!!!

Jangantah kan samsing.

Today, Ches and I went out for lunch at one of my favorite restaurants in Brunei. Lunch was awesome and after, we read fun books the owner left for diners to read. I chose this one book that contains quotes by Warren Buffett (do you need me to explain who this rich man is?).

Anyway, one of his quotes really left me wow-ed.

Just in case you can’t see that, it says, “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago”

Profound!

In a tree-related event, the British High Commission is organizing a tree-planting event in Badas. For more information, head on over to the Facebook event and RSVP.